Vodacom APN strings

[GregR]

Hi

Please excuse me if there are already threads on APN, but the forum search yielded no results.

I have been told to use the following string as a Modem Initialisation Parameter:

at+cgdcont=1,"ip","vdata"

Firstly, why do I need this?

And second, what is the Vodacom equivalent of "ip" and "vdata" - These are apparently Cell C / Mtn strings.

Thanks

 

[adsl3g]

Those are Virgin strings - If your modem works without them it is not necessary. VC would be the same just replace "vdata" with "internet"

 

[GregR]

I used this:

at+cgdcont=1,"ip","internet"

but it did not work. I got an error 692. Any other suggestions? I have a K800i and want to connect to VC. Without the APN string, it gets as far as "Registering your computer on the network" then the error 734 - "The PPP link protocol was terminated"

 

[vodacom3g]

First things first

1) Check that you're provisioned for data, call 155 and check if your sim is active.
2) At he same time let them send the gprs settings to your phone.
3) Then, can you browse the web directly from the handset? On the Internet apn?

If all the above work, then you know your connection is fine and we can start looking at the PC.

I assume you have enough credit, etc?

 

[vaco]

I just now managed to connect to Vodacom using my K800i. Hopefully I will be able to help. First of all, make sure you did the stuff suggested by V3G. Good luck getting the GPRS settings from 155, they didn't have it on their system when I phoned a week or so ago. They said they will send the settings for the K750i, but it never arrived. Requested the settings on vodacom4me, same story.

Any case, let me tell you what I did. I installed the software that came with the phone on my desktop machine with the phone connected with USB and ran the Networking Wizard. I selected a new Packet Switched connection and used the manual mode to specify internet as the APN and I left the user/pwd blank. Once the connection was created, I just clicked connect and I was connected.

This was very quick and easy on the desktop, the trick came in when I moved the phone to my laptop and connected with infrared. I didn't load the software on the laptop, only inserted the CD when prompted for the drivers of the infrared modem. Then I created the connection with the same settings I was used to. (Phone no: *99***1#, initialization string: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"). Couldn't connect, so I removed the init string and connected successfully. I got an IP address but could browse anywhere. Tried all kind of different settings but couldn't get it to work. I then found a new data account named "PS Account 4" (PS = Packed Switched) under Settings...Connectivity...Data communications...Data accounts which was created by the wizard I ran on the desktop. This account has an external ID of 4, so that reminded me that the 1 in the init string and in the phone number (*99***1#) refers to the profile ID on the phone. I checked the phone number used on the desktop which was *99***4#, used that on the laptop and now I am typing this message. Seems like the 1 in *99***1# was using the Vlive! APN on the phone, that’s why I got an IP but couldn't browse. When I inserted the init string the APN specified in it clashed with the Vlive! APN (ID 1), which is probably why it couldn’t connect. But it is in any case not necessary to supply the init string in this scenario because the APN is stored with the data account on the phone.

Sorry for the long post but I'm sure you will find something in there that will help you. Just check the data accounts on your phone, you can create it yourself if you don’t want to use the wizard, or just use the Internet APN if it's already there. Use the external ID of the account in the phone number (*99***?#) and it should work.

 

[GregR]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the help. Vodacom3G - yes I have data provision and have been able to browse directly on the handset with no issues. My connection to my PC is via USB and I somehow think that is part of the problem. I'm going to try bluetooth soon.

I managed to connect from my home PC tonight but it crashed after a few minutes. Here's what I did:

I setup the the connection via the networking wizard and selected the "Internet" (2) option from the device settings. I tried to connect without using the extra modem init parameters and it worked fine.

But after a few minutes the connection dropped and my SE software indicated that the connection to my phone had been lost. No matter what I did, I could not get the PC to connect to the phone again. In the USB connected devices screen, a yellow exclamation mark icon was next to the phones OBEX driver???. I take it that this is some sort of problem - don't know what it is. When I went to the USB connection menu on the phone - the phone hung and the only way to restart it was to remove the battery!!

Vaco, thanks for the comprehensiv post. Although my problem is not solved, I have a learnt a little more and will try your thing with USB and Bluetooth modem.

Just a quick question, why does some PC/phone/network combinations require an APN? What exactly is it? And where is it stored in the Dial-up connection?

Thanks a lot!
Greg

 

[HaP2BMe]

It realy helped!!!! Thanx

Thanx VACO,

Your answer was very helpfull to me oo. I own a SE W810i, I also stuggled getting connected and after searching the web through for ANY KIND OF HELP, I found this site and the problem so the same as mine.

Anyway. I did just that. Went to look on my phone in DATA accounts, and saw that there were a "PS Account 4" aswell as a "PS Account 5".

On my PC, viewing the properties of the connection I made via Networking wizzard, I found that the number it uses, is *99***5#. So I went to change the Init String from :
at+cgdcont=1,"ip","internet" to :
at+cgdcont=5,"ip","internet"

Well that was that!

Thanx again

 

[vodacom3g]

Just a quick question, why does some PC/phone/network combinations require an APN? What exactly is it? And where is it stored in the Dial-up connection?

All data connections (phones, modems, data cards, etc.) require an Access Point Name, to allow you to connect to the network.

There are different APN's for different functions. Think of it as a VPN and you'll get the basic picture.

All Vodacom internet users can use either the 'internet' apn or the 'vlive' apn that was introduced after the internet apn to give you direct access to the VLive! portal.

There are other specialised apns like the internetvpn and unrestricted apn but they're not needed for general use.

Where it is stored depends on the program you use, if you use DUN it is typically stored in the init string. But some modems will expect the setting to be stored on the phone and will then reference it by location, i.e. "profile 1"

 

[nuyork]

Thanx VACO,
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I WANT TO MUS TO MAKE REAL MONEY,IT ALL DEPEND ON YOU. Your JUST LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT MY DEAL,ALSO REMEMBER TO LOOK FOR A PARTNER IN SOUTH AFRICA,HERE IS MY MOBIL NUMBER,+2348022379188 YOU CALL ME ANYTIME,I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GOOD IN SOFTWARE ,I ALSO GOT A LOT OF MONEY TO TRASFER FROM BANK F AMERICA,I WANT YOUR SUPPORT,AFTER THESE DEAL MONEY WONT BE YOUR PROBLEM,JUST WORK WITH ME

OH. MY. GOD!

 

[Boodles]

My setup is as follows:

2 different connections give me a choice if one fails.

I dont use init strings. (wont connect)

My 1st connection is through my mobile phone softwdare and my 2nd connection is through windows. If connection no.1 gives me the pp error, i try no.2 , and usualyy it goes through, and vice-versa for connectio no.2

Having the 2 different conections options ceetaintly have maded things a little less frustrating, cause it does certaintly help.

(PS soprry for spelling mistakes - glass of wine has gone to my heads)

 

[vodacom3g]

My setup is as follows:

2 different connections give me a choice if one fails.

I dont use init strings. (wont connect)

My 1st connection is through my mobile phone softwdare and my 2nd connection is through windows. If connection no.1 gives me the pp error, i try no.2 , and usualyy it goes through, and vice-versa for connectio no.2

Having the 2 different conections options ceetaintly have maded things a little less frustrating, cause it does certaintly help.

(PS soprry for spelling mistakes - glass of wine has gone to my heads)

ieSpell does wonders, and it's integrated into the forum pages (the little 'ABC' on the right, just above the smileys...... )

Sounds suspicious that different software programs on your PC can be more successful to connect or not....

 

[Boodles]

Sounds suspicious that different software programs on your PC can be more successful to connect or not....

Either your refering to me talking bollocks, or something else.

As is the case when i connected to PC 20 mins ago, i initally tried connecting via my EASYGPRS program, but got the PPP error. So immediately i reconnect through windows 'dial-up' option, and voila, here i am. This often happens, so i swap between the 2.

Nothing suspicious about what i have said here. I dont tell lies.

I'm not technically minded for the nittie-grittie type internet stuff.

I post here my experiences and in return we learn from each other.

 

[vodacom3g]

Either your refering to me talking bollocks, or something else.

As is the case when i connected to PC 20 mins ago, i initally tried connecting via my EASYGPRS program, but got the PPP error. So immediately i reconnect through windows 'dial-up' option, and voila, here i am. This often happens, so i swap between the 2.

Nothing suspicious about what i have said here. I dont tell lies.

I'm not technically minded for the nittie-grittie type internet stuff.

I post here my experiences and in return we learn from each other.

Of course we do, and no-one is accusing you of lying

What I meant was that it's strange that the software on your PC makes a difference, or at least so consistently. The bulk of the 'connecting to the network' stuff is done by the data-card / phone itself, the PC software really only kick-starts the proses.

I wonder if something else on your PC is not affecting this? (The suspicious bit). Something hooking out the comms. But without looking at the PC, it'll be difficult to tell.

 

[Boodles]

I've gone through the standard procedure to set up a modem on my win2k. I've done it many times with internal modem, and with cell phone modem (currently have only cell phone modem).

I've often wondered how the 2 connections differ, and obviously they must as 1 connects and the other doesnt.

When i've gone through the modem setup/install, (for either internal or phone modem) there is nothing different/extra clicks or ticks that has been done.

What are you refering to when you mention 'hooking out the comms'?

 

[vodacom3g]

When you install a program that needs to control something else, the program will insert itself in that programs path.

For example; if you install a virus program, it will insert itself in the disk read path. Any program-request for a file, is now first passed to the virus program that reads the file to check for viruses and will then in turn pass it to the original application.

If some program is trying to insert itself in your Dial-up comms, it might be causing this problem. Firewall, virus checker, bandwidth meter, etc.

Hooking out the comms just refers to the process of unhooking the specific program's interrupt vector and inserting another program into the loop. (PC-speak, circa 19-voetsek, so ignore it )

Do you have a feel if one method is more successful than the other?

 

[Boodles]

I alternate between to the 2 regularly, and feel that i dont use one method more than the other.

This PPP error that i get (this is uaually the only error that i get when i cant connect) , whats the meaning behind that?
This is the error i get on both connections. But, again, i'm able to alternate between connection1 & 2.

I have suggested to others that get the ppp error, to try my method of 2 connections, and it has worked.

 

[vodacom3g]

This PPP error that i get (this is uaually the only error that i get when i cant connect) , whats the meaning behind that?/QUOTE]
What's the error number you're getting?

Have a look in the FAQ, I posted two links there with explanations on what the different error codes mean. But be aware, they're often very generic. 619, being a classic example, it really only means you can't connect!